The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-07
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1887.
The Way Not to Do 1t.

The Way Not to Do It.
The readers of the REPUBLICAN
are familiar with the dispute between
Maryland and West Virginia with
reference to the boundary line sepa-
rating the two States. The dispute
is one of long standing and has al
ready been the cause of much incon-
venience and great trouble to people
living in the disputed territory. In
1859 the line in controversy was run
under joint commission of Virginia
and Maryland. The report of the
commission was duly ratified by the
Legislature of Maryland on the 5th
of March, 1860, but the Legislature
of Virginia never took any action
upon the report, and when the State
of West Virginia came into existence
it inherited the quarrel. At intervals
since 1860, the Legislature of Mary
land. by joipt resolutions, passed by
the Legislature, has called the atten-
tion of West Virginia to the matter.
No attention was paid to the subject
until the present Legislature now in
session in that State. 1t was gener-
ally supposed that the line as run in
1859, and adopted in good faith by
Maryland. would be ratified by West
Virginia. By referring to the follow
ing document our readers will see
how they have miscalculated upon
this subject:
EXTRA SESSION.
HOUSE BILL MOI
A BILL to confirm and establish part OF the
boundary line between the State of West
Virginia and the State of Maryland.
TApril 20, 1SS7.-Mr. Jones. Referred to
Reported back to pass. April 22-Read first
time and ordered to second reading.J
Be it enacted By the Legislature of
West Virginia:
1. That the boundary line as run
and marked by N. Micheler. U. S.
Engineer, in the year 1859, under the
direction of A. w. Mcdonald COM
missioner on the part of Virginia,
and Thomas j. Lee commissioner on
the part of Maryland, from the Fair
fax Stone, to the Pennsylvania line,
between the county of Preston, West
Virginia, and the county of Garrett,
Maryland, be and the same is hereby
approved and confirmed as the true
boundary line between the State of
West Virginia and the State OF Mary
land.
2. But this act shall not take effect
until and unless the State of Mary
land shall pass an act or acts confirm
ing and rendering valid all entries,
grants, patents and titles from the
commonwealth of Virginia to any
person or persons to lands situate and
lying between the New Maryland
line hereby established and the old
Maryland line heretofore claimed by
Virginia and West Virginia to the
same extent and like legal effect. as
though said old Maryland line were
hereby confirmed and established.
We venture the assertion that such
a ridiculous effort at absurd legisla-
tion as the above miserable abortion
presents, was never seen outside of
West Virginia. If there had been no
dispute this bill would certainly
make one. If there be dispute, land
of this there can be no question: this
law confirms and intensifies 1t. The
Legislature of West Virginia asks
Maryland to deprive her own citizens
Of property granted to them within
her own territory, and to recognize
the grants by Virginia for land lying
In Maryland. In short, Maryland
Is asked to give up portion of her
territory and recognise what is called
the old Maryland line. The practi-
cal effect of the Act is to reject the
line run in 1859 and leave the dispute
where it stood thirty years ago. In
the meantime the unfortunate people
who own land and live upon terri
tory over which two sovereign States
claim jurisdiction must be subjected
to all sorts OF inconvenience, annoy
ances and litigation. It is not only
high time for this Commonwealth to
assert her authority in the premises,
but it is burning shame that the
State of Maryland permits its citi-
zens to be thus outraged and its dig
nifty to be thus impaired.
What are we Going to do About 1tp
A few years ago Admiral Porter,